[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 92 (Thursday, May 13, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 26888-26889]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-11423]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 92 / Thursday, May 13, 2010 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 26888]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2010-0490; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-037-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
(Sikorsky) Model S-70A and S-70C Helicopters
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This document proposes adopting a new airworthiness directive
(AD) for the Sikorsky Model S-70A and S-70C helicopters. This proposal
would require an ultrasonic test (UT) inspection of the tail gearbox
output bevel gear (gear) for a crack. If you find a crack, replacing
the gear with an airworthy gear before further flight would be
required. This proposal is prompted by three gear cracking incidents,
one of which resulted in the tail rotor separating from the helicopter.
The actions specified by this proposed AD are intended to detect a
crack in the gear to prevent a tail rotor separating, loss of tail
rotor control, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 12, 2010.
ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on
this proposed AD:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Fax: 202-493-2251.
Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
You may get the service information identified in this proposed AD
from Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Attn: Manager, Commercial Technical
Support, mailstop s581a, 6900 Main Street, Stratford, CT, telephone
(203) 383-4866, e-mail address [email protected], or at http://www.sikorsky.com.
You may examine the comments to this proposed AD in the AD docket
on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Terry Fahr, Aviation Safety Engineer,
Boston Aircraft Certification Office, 12 New England Executive Park,
Burlington, MA 01803, telephone (781) 238-7155, fax (781) 238-7170.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to submit any written data, views, or arguments
regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to the address listed
under the caption ADDRESSES. Include the docket number ``FAA-2010-0490,
Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-037-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend the
proposed AD in light of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact
with FAA personnel concerning this proposed rulemaking. Using the
search function of our docket web site, you can find and read the
comments to any of our dockets, including the name of the individual
who sent or signed the comment. You may review the DOT's complete
Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11,
2000 (65 FR 19477-78).
Examining the Docket
You may examine the docket that contains the proposed AD, any
comments, and other information in person at the Docket Operations
office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The Docket Operations office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is
located in Room W12-140 on the ground floor of the West Building at the
street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be
available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.
Discussion
This document proposes adopting a new AD for the Sikorsky Model S-
70A and S-70C helicopters. This proposal would require a UT inspection
of the gear for a crack. If you find a crack, replacing the gear with
an airworthy gear would be required before further flight. This
proposal is prompted by three gear crack incidents, one of which
resulted in the tail rotor separating from the helicopter. The tail
gearbox on the helicopter where the tail rotor separated from the
helicopter experienced a fracture of the output shaft spline that
drives the tail rotor blades. An investigation into the cause of the
cracks is ongoing. The unsafe condition described previously, if not
corrected, could result in a tail rotor separating, loss of tail rotor
control, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
We have reviewed Sikorsky Alert Service Bulletin No. 70-06-28A,
Revision A, dated May 21, 2009 (ASB), which refers to procedures for a
UT inspection of the gear in accordance with Special Service
Instructions (SSI) No. 70-121A or latest revision.
This unsafe condition is likely to exist or develop on other
helicopters of the same type design. Therefore, the proposed AD would
require a UT inspection of the gear, part number 70358-06620, for a
crack. If you find a crack, the AD requires replacing the gear with an
airworthy gear before further flight. The actions would be required to
be to be done by following the SSI described previously.
We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 5 helicopters of
U.S. registry, and the proposed actions would take about 4 work hours
per helicopter at an average labor rate of $85 per work hour. Required
parts would cost about $20,000 for each gear. Based on these figures,
we estimate the total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators
to be $101,700, assuming the gear is replaced on the entire fleet.
[[Page 26889]]
Regulatory Findings
We have determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. Additionally, this proposed
AD would not have a substantial direct effect on the States, on the
relationship between the national Government and the States, or on the
distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of
government.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that the proposed
regulation:
1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order
12866;
2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT Regulatory Policies
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and
3. Will not have a significant economic impact, positive or
negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
We prepared a draft economic evaluation of the estimated costs to
comply with this proposed AD. See the AD docket to examine the draft
economic evaluation.
Authority for This Rulemaking
Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs,
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in
subtitle VII, part A, subpart III, section 44701, ``General
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this
rulemaking action.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend
part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as
follows:
PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive
to read as follows:
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp.: Docket No. FAA-2010-0490; Directorate
Identifier 2010-SW-037-AD.
Applicability
Model S-70A and S-70C helicopters, tail gearbox output bevel
gear (gear), part number 70358-06620, certificated in any category.
Compliance
Required as indicated.
To prevent a tail rotor separating, loss of tail rotor control,
and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter, do the following:
(a) Within 500 hours time-in-service (TIS), unless accomplished
previously, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 500 hours TIS,
remove the tail rotor servo control and pitch beam shaft, and using
a Level II Ultrasonic Testing Technician or equivalent, ultransonic
inspect the gear for a crack. Ultrasonic inspect the gear by
following paragraphs A.(5)a. through A(5)n., Note 7, Special Service
Instructions (SSI) No. 70-121A, Revision A, dated May 21, 2009. If
you find a crack, before further flight, replace the gear with an
airworthy gear.
(b) To request a different method of compliance or a different
compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19.
Contact the Manager, Boston Aircraft Certification Office, FAA,
ATTN: Terry Fahr, Aviation Safety Engineer, Boston Aircraft
Certification Office, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA
01803, telephone (781) 238-7155, fax (781) 238-7170, for information
about previously approved alternative methods of compliance.
(c) The Joint Aircraft System/Component (JASC) Code is: 6520:
Tail rotor gearbox.
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on May 3, 2010.
Mark R. Schilling,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-11423 Filed 5-12-10; 8:45 am]
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